William Heseltine

About Me

You may be dealing with a dispute that's dragged on longer than it should, a relationship where the same argument keeps resurfacing, or a working relationship that's become genuinely difficult to navigate. Many of the people I work with describe feeling stuck - caught in a pattern they can see clearly but can't seem to step out of, often because the other person involved isn't willing, or able, to work through it together.

I'm William Heseltine, a CMC Associate Mediator and conflict coach, accredited in both Workplace and Civil/Commercial categories. Before this, I spent twelve years as a British Army officer leading teams through high-pressure environments, including around five years mediating disputes across the Army and the adjacent civil service. I now run Yorway alongside my wife Mia, an NHS-trained CBT psychotherapist, and her clinical background fundamentally shapes how I work - understanding what's actually happening emotionally and physiologically when a conflict feels stuck, not just the practical facts of the dispute.

My approach is practical and collaborative. Rather than dwelling only on what's gone wrong, we focus on what's actually driving the pattern, and build a genuine way forward - whether that's for you alone, for a relationship, or between everyone involved in a dispute.

How Conflict Coaching, Relationship Coaching and Mediation Can Help

These are three distinct ways of working, and which one fits depends on your situation.

Conflict coaching is 1:1 work, for you rather than a joint session with the other person involved. It's particularly suited to situations where mediation isn't possible - the other party won't engage, or a previous attempt at resolving things hasn't worked. Together, we look at your own part in the pattern, what's keeping things stuck, and build practical ways to manage the situation differently, even without the other person's cooperation.

Relationship coaching works with the specific patterns that show up between partners - recurring arguments, a breakdown in communication, or feeling stuck in a cycle that's hard to name from inside it. I've completed Gottman Method Couples Therapy, Levels 1 and 2, which shapes how I help you and your partner understand what's actually driving the pattern and build a different way of engaging. This is coaching, not clinical therapy - practical, skills-focused work on the relationship itself, whether that's with one of you individually or both of you together.

Mediation is different again - a joint process for when everyone involved is willing to sit down together, rather than 1:1 work for one person alone. I facilitate a structured conversation between everyone involved, helping move past entrenched positions to reach an outcome that actually works for all sides.

Areas I Can Help With

I regularly work with people experiencing:

• Workplace conflict, including disputes between colleagues, staff and management, or across teams
• Leadership and management conflict, where difficult decisions or working relationships need a structured way through
• Family disputes and disagreements, including inheritance and succession issues in family businesses
• Divorce and separation, alongside rather than instead of any legal process
• Co-parenting and parenting-related conflict, particularly where communication has broken down
• Recurring arguments and communication problems between partners
• Feeling stuck in a relationship pattern that's hard to see from the inside
• Friendship conflict and difficult fallings-out
• Neighbour and community disputes
• Business partnership and commercial disputes
• Situations where the other person involved won't engage in mediation, or a previous attempt has failed

If you're unsure whether coaching or mediation is the right fit for your situation, you're very welcome to get in touch for a free informal consultation.

What Working With Me Is Like

In our work together, we will:

• Understand what's actually driving the conflict, beyond the surface disagreement
• Separate the position being argued from the underlying need
  Recognise the physical and emotional patterns that keep a conflict escalating
• Build a genuine, practical plan for moving forward
• Decide together whether coaching, mediation, or a combination is the right fit

Alongside my 1:1 and mediation work, I also co-run Yorway with Mia, where we run a free introduction to managing conflict, ongoing 1:1 support for relationship, family and workplace conflict, and separate courses on anxiety, worry and mindfulness led by Mia, an accredited CBT therapist - each with a free introductory session. Find out more, or book onto a free session, at www.yorway.co.uk.

Availability & Contact

I offer online mediation and coaching across the UK, as well as face-to-face sessions for clients in Skipton and surrounding areas, including Harrogate, Ilkley, Keighley, Settle, Colne, Burnley and Yeadon.

If you're considering coaching or mediation and would like to explore whether this feels like the right fit, you're very welcome to get in touch.

I aim to respond to all enquiries within 24 hours, and offer a free 15-20 minute call to help you decide whether working together is right for you.

Conflict Coaching: 1:1 support for someone navigating a dispute the other party won't engage with, or where a previous attempt at resolving things hasn't worked.

Conflict coaching sessions are £95 online, or £115 in person locally.

A free, no-obligation initial consultation of 15-20 minutes is available beforehand, so we can talk through your situation and check that coaching is the right fit before committing to anything further.

Sessions are available online or in person, from our base in the Yorkshire Dales.

I work with a wide range of situations - family disagreements, workplace conflict, relationship strain, and neighbour or community disputes - wherever things have become stuck and need a different kind of support to move forward.

I also run a free introductory workshop, Turning Down the Heat, covering some of the same principles in a group setting - a lower-commitment way to start if you're not sure coaching is the right fit yet.